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Grow Your Own:

Definition

A clear, articulated pathway for an aspiring educator to become a teacher for free and get paid to do so.

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NCGYO

Who We Are &

What We Do

The National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was formed by the former human capital leadership team at the Tennessee Department of Education

We provide technical assistance to state education agencies (SEAs), school districts (LEAs), and educator preparation providers (EPPs) to launch or expand “Grow Your Own” (GYO) and registered apprenticeships in teaching and/or principalship

NCGYO was a co-chair (along with Deans for Impact & AACTE) for the National Guideline Standards of the K-12 teacher registered apprenticeship via Pathways Alliance

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The Problems to Address

Remove financial barriers

Address vacancies - with focus on SPED and ESL

Address Educator Preparation Provider (EPP)

deserts and quality considerations

Eliminate concept of a first-year teacher

Increase educator diversity

By leveraging Grow Your Own strategies in Tennessee, we sought to…

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What We Did in TN

Allowed aspiring educators to become teachers for free and get paid to do so

Dually-certified all graduates in either SPED or ESL

Increased access to high-quality EPPs

Required a minimum of two years for student teaching

Incorporated diversity into the rubric

By leveraging GYO strategies in TN, we created pathways that…

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What This Led To

65 districts and 14 EPP partners, creating pathways for 670+ future educators

Dramatically lowered cost of EPPs (under $10K per candidate)

Higher performing EPPs serving more enrollees

US DOL application for teacher apprenticeship

Increase in diversity of EPP enrollees

The TN GYO Grant Program in Tennessee led to…

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How did RAP in teaching get approved?

2 administrations, 4 applications, 15 letters

Occupation Approved November 2021

First Program Approved January 2022

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What is a registered apprenticeship?

“Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are industry-vetted and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.”

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What is a registered apprenticeship….REALLY?!

Apprenticeship is the best of both worlds…

Apprentice completes a degree program from an EPP

Apprentice gains hands-on experience in a K-12 classroom, under the guidance of a mentor teacher

Apprentice can “earn-and-learn” as a full-time employee

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Apprenticeship Programs (Recommended Definition)

Registered apprenticeships in teaching should be viewed as phase two of high quality GYO programs.

Phase two being the financial sustainability or expansion of what already works or could be working in your respective context.

If not careful, bad actors and low performing current operators will use RAPs to just gain access to labor funding to keep doing exactly what they have always done.

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EPP Costs

The only way this program will scale and be sustainable is if we have affordable rates from EPPs

With enrollment down, concessions must be made

Are you identifying candidates who wouldn’t otherwise attend?

Competitive grant process

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LEA Locus of Control

Fully funded vacant teaching positions

ESSER

Title II

IDEA and Title III

State general funds

Perkins V

Leverage available funding at HS level

(for youth apprenticeship only)

Priority Funding Sources

Other Considerations

LEAs should cover salaries – leverage existing paraprofessional/education assistant positions and vacancies

Use this as a recruitment strategy to attract career changers into profession

Never pay market rate tuition

Be intentional with HS programs

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As of September ‘23, according to the USDOL, Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching programs are now in 23 states, and this number continues to grow.

In the USDOL’s $85M State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Grant Opportunity released in spring 2023, 35 of the 45 state applications included a reference to K-12 education.

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Florida

Wyoming

West Virginia

Texas

California

North Dakota

Missouri

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The National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching State Network now includes 26 states plus Washington, D.C., featuring both state education agency and state labor agency leaders.

National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching State Network

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Technical Assistance Process

We start with this team to identify vacancy areas and projected turnover to determine endorsement area needs, identify potential candidates and audit transcripts to determine program design and pathways.

Talent/HR

We work with CFOs to identify available and braided funding opportunities to leverage one-time and sustainable sources. From there, we work with procurement to draft the RFP for EPPs to apply.

CFOs

We provide extensive engagement to EPPs to encourage applying to the RFP and answering technical questions to ensure eligibility.

EPPs

For apprenticeship purposes, we support the process of establishing the sponsor, employer and related instruction provider. We help design the on-the-job competencies and coursework selection to be eligible to register.

CTE/Labor

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@NationalGYO

info@ncgyo.org

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